Montpellier’s South African fly-half Handre Pollard (C) vies with Stade Francais’ French flanker Sekou Macalou (R) and Stade Francais’ French full back Kylan Hamdaoui (L) during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Montpellier and Stade Francais on December 28, 2019, at the GGL stadium in Montpellier, southern France. (Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP)
Challenge Cup: European affair with South African flavour
It will be a SAFFA’S laden affair when French giants Montpellier take on English giants Leicester Tigers in the much anticipated European Challenge Cup final to be held at Twickenham on Friday evening.
Montpellier’s South African fly-half Handre Pollard (C) vies with Stade Francais’ French flanker Sekou Macalou (R) and Stade Francais’ French full back Kylan Hamdaoui (L) during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Montpellier and Stade Francais on December 28, 2019, at the GGL stadium in Montpellier, southern France. (Photo by Pascal GUYOT / AFP)
It will be a SAFFA’S laden affair when French giants Montpellier take on English giants Leicester Tigers in the much anticipated European Challenge Cup final to be held at Twickenham on Friday evening.
Leicester Tigers might be seen by many as having the edge, as the English side in a final played at the home of English rugby. They will be looking to maximize on that “home advantage” by clinching a victory that would ensure that they become three times European Champions. On the other hand, Montpellier will not be taking the challenge lightly either, as they look to add a second European title to their cabinet with a victory tonight.
Springbok hopefuls in the Leicester Tigers team
Contesting the final will not be the sole thing both these teams have In common, however, as there is expected to be a plethora of Springboks on show on both sides. The two matchday squads have no less than 12 South Africans featuring between them. It is an all-South African back row for the Tigers, which features the likes of Springbok hopefuls Jasper Wiese, Cyle Brink as well as Hanro Liebenberg. Former Cheetahs loosehead prop Luan de Bruin will start the showpiece on the bench
Established Springboks in the Montpellier side
Montpellier on the other hand, do not only have the greater contingent of South Africans but are the only team that boast Springboks between the two sides. All but one of their nine South Africans is a Springbok with the exception of junior Springbok and now French international Paul Willemse, Vodacom Bulls-bound Jacques du Plessis 19-year-old former Paul Roos Gymnasium prop Robert Rodgers.
It Will be an interesting watch for the Springbok coaching regime
Another Bulls bound player in Johan Goosen teams up with a former Loftus stalwart in Jan Serfontein in the French sides’ midfield. Veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis forms part of the replacements, alongside side World Cup-winning Springbok half-backs Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard.
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Whatever the result, it promises to be a humdinger of an encounter and one of interest to many South African rugby lovers, in particular, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber.
